Chapter 176: Discussion

In the study, Lei Kedun stood up from his chair and stretched his body.

He glanced at the wall clock; it was almost three p. m.

Lei Kedun put away the Bone Staff on his desk into a nearby storage cabinet, then made himself a cup of coffee, sat in the lounge chair by the window, and waited for today's Tarot meeting to begin.

These past days, Lei Kedun has been analyzing the Bone Staff's extraordinary abilities and using them to develop new secret arts.

Although the Black Knight's power is demi‑god level, Lei Kedun had already dissected some shadow‑type extraordinary abilities; he also hosts Sasilier, the big boss of the Hanged Man path, and the analysis progress is good, with the secret art already taking shape.

Conversely, the secret arts concerning emotions and desire have made no progress at all due to a lack of research material.

"Desire Apostles are hard to find! The demons' malicious perception is too troublesome."

Lei Kedun sighed while lying in the lounge chair.

To prevent the Desire Apostle of Beckrand from detecting him early via malicious perception, Lei Kedun rarely thinks about this matter, instead waiting for the opponent to follow the original plan before swooping in to pick up the bounty.

While pondering, the time reached three p. m.

A surge of deep red light flooded Lei Kedun's vision on schedule, swallowing all his sight like a tide.

When he came to his senses, he found himself above a gray mist, inside a grand, ancient palace.

Still half‑reclined, Lei Kedun sat up straight and heard Miss Justice greet Mr. Fool.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"

He glanced at the card Ke Lai En had placed to his right; the card lay face‑down on the bronze long table, its back showing intricate, ornate patterns.

Everyone at the Tarot meeting noticed the card, their gazes and gestures showing surprise, puzzlement, and personal speculation.

However, Lei Kedun observed that Miss Justice's surprise lasted only a moment; she was more curious and also focused on others' reactions.

Justice Odile likewise noticed Lei Kedun's similar reaction.

What does Mr. White Tower know? He's powerful; perhaps his hand was involved in stealing the Profane Card from the kingdom museum.

Lei Kedun locked eyes with Miss Justice, roughly guessing her thoughts, and suddenly wanted to stoke her curiosity.

Seeing that no one had submitted Russell's diary today, Lei Kedun raised his hand slightly, and amid the crowd's surprised or puzzled looks, addressed the Fool seated at the head:

"Honored Mr. Fool, may I take a look at the card beside you? I'm also seeking similar things, so I'm curious,"

Lei Kedun deliberately omitted the conditions for viewing the Profane Card, wanting to see what Ke Lai En would ask in exchange, or perhaps just show it to him.

Ke Lai En, shrouded in gray mist at the head, hesitated briefly; he wasn't surprised that the request to view the Profane Card came, but hadn't expected it to be so direct.

A'erjie was also after the Profane Card? Indeed, he was present then, but he ran into Bernadette, and the two were at a stalemate.

To avoid delaying too long and letting the other members notice a problem, Ke Lai En didn't think much; all the questions flashed through his mind.

In a casually low tone he said:

"Sure! Get it, and you'll share the credit,"

Ke Lai En placed it on the right edge of the bronze long table, lifted his finger slightly. The Profane Card he set there immediately wrapped in a wisp of gray‑white mist and flew into Lei Kedun's hand.

Lei Kedun caught the Profane Card, ignored the others' inquisitive gazes, and carefully examined the Black Emperor (Item) in his hand.

His eyes were instantly veiled with a blue‑white‑purple glow, and the Profane Card's information surfaced in his mind, though scant; Lei Kedun found he could not decipher the Profane Card made by Russell.

Although expected, he felt a bit disappointed. He then reached out, and the Profane Card flew back on its own to Ke Lai En's right side.

"Thank you for your generosity!" he said to the Fool at the head, then turned his body away.

Observant Justice Odile sensed Lei Kedun's unmasked disappointment and quickly began to speculate.

Isn't this Profane Card supposed to correspond to the Reader path that Mr. White Tower occupies? No, just now Mr. White Tower seemed to be using an extraordinary ability; perhaps he failed to glean anything from the Profane Card, hence his disappointment?

The others also showed unmasked inquisitive looks, but Lei Kedun had no intention of responding, lazily leaning on the high‑back chair, waiting for the Tarot meeting to continue.

Odile's gaze returned to the Profane Card; after Lei Kedun's request to view it was granted, her curiosity was piqued.

Scanning the room and confirming no one spoke, Odile raised her hand and said:

"Honored Mr. Fool, I have something to report to you privately,"

Ke Lai En, shrouded in gray mist, nodded lightly:

"Sure."

The others, isolated from the private exchange, fell silent.

Magician Folsi was very curious about what the card to the Fool's right actually was, wanted to ask Lei Kedun who had seen it, but couldn't bring himself to speak, fidgeting in his seat.

The atmosphere grew too silent, so Lei Kedun simply started a conversation with the Little Sun beside him:

"Mr. Sun, was the extraordinary knowledge you obtained last time useful?"

"Very useful; it largely compensated for my lack of front‑line combat ability,"

When mentioning the knowledge gained from the last secret pact ceremony, Little Sun replied with great happiness.

Lei Kedun nodded thoughtfully; Little Sun's answer gave him a hint of a business opportunity.

He could easily sell this kind of low‑path‑requirement spell knowledge to Silver City in exchange for their materials; spreading knowledge would also help him process the secret art mentor's demonic elixir, and Little Sun and the others would be his best students.

Interest sparked, Lei Kedun sat upright and said to the Little Sun beside him:

"Mr. Sun, if I have a lot of this kind of spell knowledge, can I trade with you? Or trade with Silver City!"

Little Sun hesitated a moment, scratched his head apologetically and said:

"But..."

The Hanged Man A'erjie, in a serious tone, took over before Little Sun could finish:

"Mr. Sun's ability to contact the outside world should be his own secret; if he recklessly trades too much extraordinary knowledge, it will surely arouse suspicion among others in Silver City,"

Lei Kedun glanced at the Hanged Man A'erjie, thinking the other was worried about him monopolizing Silver City's resources.

Without replying to A'erjie's words, Lei Kedun stared at Little Sun and continued:

"What is your ultimate goal? To keep getting stronger? To save Silver City? Or both?"

"Save Silver City!"

Little Sun answered resolutely.

Leyton gave a slight smile, following Little Sun Derrick's words, he said:

"So are you planning to keep hiding the fact that you can communicate with the outside world, or will you come clean?"

Little Sun Derrick froze again; he had never considered this question, he had simply subconsciously hidden his difference.

The Hanged Man's brows furrowed; seeing Little Sun Derrick truly considering confessing his ability to communicate with the outside world, the Hanged Man A'erjie's brows furrowed even deeper.

"You first need sufficient self-protection ability, then consider coming clean about this to everyone."

"What do you think—if you go tell the elders about this now, do they think it's more likely you've been bewitched by an evil god, or more likely they'll believe you?"

Hanged Man A'erjie earnestly dissuaded Little Sun Derrick, urging him to think it through clearly, and only after gaining sufficient strength should he reveal his ability to communicate with the outside world.

Magician Fools stood aside, staring blankly; she vaguely sensed that this Mr. Sun's identity, or the place he was in, was quite special.

Leyton shook his head slightly; the Hanged Man shouldn't judge this from his own perspective—the Silver City that has struggled in darkness for thousands of years is more rational, braver, and understands the meaning of sacrifice better than he believes.

Sighing, Leyton turned his gaze to Hanged Man A'erjie and said:

"Mr. Hanged Man, you've overlooked a very important issue."

"What issue?"

Hanged Man A'erjie looked somewhat puzzled at Leyton beside him.

"The Silver City is not the southern or northern continent; they have struggled in darkness for thousands of years, and every day is an apocalypse!"

Leyton's tone grew solemn as he spoke.

Hanged Man A'erjie fell silent; he had indeed overlooked this issue.

Perhaps for the Silver City, every bit of strength is precious.

The Hanged Man pondered for a moment, then fixed his gaze on Little Sun Derrick, his voice low and solemn as he spoke:

"You could consider Mr. White Tower's suggestion, but trading such extraordinary knowledge is best started with yourself—first master it, then teach others or trade with them."

"As for revealing that you can contact the outside world, my advice is to hold off for now—you're only Sequence Eight, you can't yet bear the hopes of the entire Silver City."

Little Sun Derrick remained silent for a while, then slowly spoke:

"I understand, thank you, Mr. Hanged Man."

Little Sun Derrick's reaction made Leyton realize he had been too hasty; he stopped mentioning trading extraordinary knowledge with the Silver City, and instead said:

"You need to learn to trust your companions; of course, first you should go out, wander around, and make more friends."

Little Sun Derrick froze again; the other's topic shifted too quickly, but he still nodded and said:

"Hmm, I understand, but Mr. White Tower, how do you know I rarely go out and don't have many friends?"

"The Reader is a path very skilled at observation."

"Saving the Silver City can't rely on you alone; you also need your own companions and friends."

"Moreover, I think this isn't just your wish; it should also be the wish of every person in the Silver City."

Leyton explained in a sentence, also reminding Little Sun Derrick that he himself is not a lone hero.

Little Sun Derrick nodded solemnly and said: "I understand, thank you very much for the reminder! Mr. White Tower~"

Magician Fools, who had been out of the loop, finally couldn't hold back her curiosity and spoke up:

"May I ask, what place is the Silver City?"

(End of chapter)